Ozark Folk Center Guitar Contest General Rules
Contestants must be at the contest stage 15 minutes prior to the start of each division on Saturday to draw for initial order of appearance in the preliminary round. There are two categories of competition: Traditional, Contemporary. In an effort to complete the competition in a professional and timely manner, contestants who are not present by 15 minutes prior to draw for playing order will be disqualified from the competition and will forfeit entry fee. It is the responsibility of each contestant to be prompt both in drawing for picking order and performance time. Due to limited space, the green room / rehearsal area is for contestants only.
Contestants must be prepared to play two tunes at each contest appearance. No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant. Performances time is limited to six minutes for each contestant per round. Points will be deducted if a performance exceeds the allowed time frame.
Prizes: Each category has a $300 (1st), $125 (2nd) and $50 (3rd) prize. Contestants will be required to fill out a State of Arkansas Vendor form to claim the prize, which will be payable by check in 7-10 days.
Traditional Rules
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumb picking in a traditional manner, such as any Merle Travis, or early Chet Atkins tunes.
*Contestants are required to play tunes which use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. This may be performed utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*All instruments used must be acoustic guitars. Competitors will NOT have the option to run direct.
*Judging will be on traditional thumb picking ability, arrangement, rhythm and timing, tone quality, overall performance, and tuning.
*A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Contemporary Rules
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumb picking in a contemporary manner such as later Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Doyle Dykes, and Jerry Reed.
*Contestants are required to play tunes which use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. In some Contemporary Arrangements, there are periods where the alternating thumb pattern is not present for certain runs, etc. This is acceptable in the Contemporary category. but contestants are to keep in mind that this is not an open fingerstyle class; therefore, tunes with NO alternating thumb present for the majority of an arrangement will result in points deduction. Some contemporary tunes exhibit more of a “walking bass line” than an alternating thumb. This is also accepted in the contemporary category. Contestants may perform utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*All instruments used must be acoustic guitars. Competitors will NOT have the option to run direct.
*Judging will be on contemporary thumbpicking ability, arrangement, rhythm and timing, tone quality, overall performance, and tuning.
*A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Standard Winfield Rules Applied
In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area
40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT - Contestant’s version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.
40 points 2. EXECUTION, TUNING - Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the instrument in tune?
10 points 3. SHOW VALUE - The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless nor should it drag.
10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION
Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. CONTESTANT MAY PLAY ANY STYLE OF MUSIC, BUT FLAT PICK AND SLIDE TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK. Standard / traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional acoustic 12-string arch top or flat top guitars with either steel or nylon strings are allowed. Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Maximum playing time is six (6) minutes. Standard or traditional style capos may be used, but no capos which allow the alteration of individual strings, such as the Third Hand Capo, the G7 Capo, AND no partial capos depressing some, but not all strings will be allowed. CAPOS, IF USED, MUST BE APPLIED ACROSS ALL STRINGS OF THE INSTRUMENT.
CONTEST SCHEDULE AND IMPORTANT TIMES
2:30-4:00 Contemporary Thumbpicking Contest Saturday May 17, 2014
Contestants Report Backstage in Large Music Auditorium @ 2:15
-Judges- Thom Bresh, Randy Buckner, Danny Dozier
4:30-6:30 Traditional Thumbpicking Contest Saturday May 17, 2014 Contestants Report Backstage in Large Music Auditorium @ 4:15
-Judges- Thom Bresh, Randy Buckner, Danny Dozier
Contest Registration Form Ozark Folk Center
$10.00 ENTRY FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE
ENTRY & RELEASE FORM
By completing the ENTRY & RELEASE FORM and signing my name, I grant the Ozark Folk Center the right to record my performance and use same in promotion of the Contest and the Folk Center. I agree to the terms of prize disbursement as set forth by the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
CONTESTANT NAME______
TRADITIONAL or CONTEMPORARY ______
ADDRESS______
CITY______STATE______ZIP______
EMAIL ______
TELEPHONE ______
SIGNATURE______
Please complete the ENTRY & RELEASE FORM and return with your check made payable to “OZARK FOLK CENTER”. Mail entries will be accepted thru Thursday May 15, 2014, in person registration ends Saturday May 17th at 12 NOON.
Mail your entry and payment to:
“GUITAR CONTEST”
OZARK FOLK CENTER
1032 PARK AVENUE
MOUNTAIN VIEW, ARKANSAS 72560
TELEPHONE: (870) 269-3851; LODGING: 1-(800) 264-3655
PARKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTESTANTS:
All contestants must park their vehicles in the large parking lot at the bottom of the hill from the OFC Music Theater. Instruments may be delivered to the Music Theater before up to 30 min prior to each contest by car however, automobiles must then be returned to the large parking lot. Buses are available for transportation between the parking lot and the Music Theater.